New Year, new brands entering the sustainability arena! While rehoming beauty products is definitely the most sustainable way to shop, we completely understand that sometimes a trip to Sephora is necessary. Fortunately for you, our favorite sustainable beauty brands are available on glou.co! We want to help you navigate the aisles and give you a list of our favorite sustainable brands to watch and shop in 2023.
A brief note: all the beauty brands in this list market themselves as “clean.” We think that’s awesome, but we understand that “clean” is an unregulated term whose meaning varies from brand to brand. If the “clean beauty” lifestyle is your thing, we love that for you! We’re not saying “clean” is better for everyone, just that many sustainable brands also market themselves as “clean.” Both “clean” and “sustainable” are really trendy marketing terms right now, so a growing number of companies are adopting both. We want to be upfront about our intentions whenever we highlight brands. Our commitment is to sustainability first, not necessarily the “clean” lifestyle–but sometimes those two terms overlap.
1) Biossance
Biossance’s commitment to sustainability is the foundation of their brand. Their sugar-cane-derived squalene (pronounced sk-WAY-leen) provides an alternative to traditional shark-derived squalene and helps re-balance oceanic ecosystems by minimizing the shark trade. Additionally, the brand seeks to use 100% of the sugar cane they harvest by coming up with creative ways to use sugarcane byproducts. For instance, the left-over fibers and husks from the cane are used to create unit cartons and packaging for the Biossance line. Biossance seeks to eliminate waste from the production process and provide consumers with an uncompromisingly sustainable option.
2) Rose Inc.
Refillable? Check! Recyclable? Double check! Rose Inc. has flown under the radar compared to some other brands on this list, but we feel they deserve love in 2023. With a focus on Post Consumer Resin plastics and cardboard made from hemp, minimalism is Rose Inc’s motto. Their bottles even have wash-off labels to make recycling your empties at home way easier.
3) Glow Recipe
We love Glow Recipe for so many reasons, but their commitment to sustainability won our hearts. Not only are they certified Carbon Neutral, but Glow Recipe also has 100% recyclable packaging and partners with TerraCycle to ensure their packaging actually gets recycled. In 2022, the brand donated over $1,000,000 to organizations supporting sustainability research, diversity and inclusion, and women’s empowerment and education. We can’t wait for all the good stuff to come from Glow Recipe in 2023!
Get Glow Recipe on Glou here!
4) Kosas
Kosas had a great 2022, and we’re so excited to see what they do in 2023! The Kosas Air Brow tint contains biodegradable fibers that, unlike traditional cosmetic fibers, are derived from plants. Kosas also sources their mica from ethical foundries and recognizes that terms like “cruelty-free” and “sustainable” apply to sourcing ingredients from suppliers with humane working practices. The brand is both TreeFree and Forest Stewardship Council certified and they prioritize Post Consumer Resin plastics in their packaging.
Check Kosas out on Glou here!
5) Briogeo
Briogeo is like the Glow Recipe of the haircare world. Fun, fruit-forward, and ethically minded, Briogeo is on a mission to bring sustainability to the forefront of the beauty industry. Their cardboard unit cartons are 99% Forest Stewardship Council certified, and their dry shampoo is free from aerosols (that’s really hard to do). Additionally, their castor oil is Fair Life certified, meaning that the local communities and workers Briogeo gets their castor beans from are protected and enjoy safe working conditions and fair wages.
6) Cheekbone Beauty
Indigenous-owned Cheekbone Beauty’s commitment to sustainability is staggering. They’re a certified B-Corp, a member of the PACT Collective, and pledged to 1% for the Planet. On top of all of that, the brand’s emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients and compostable packaging means that their impact on the community of St. Catherine’s, Ontario is a positive one. They’ve been available in Sephora Canada for a while now, but we hope that their products become more accessible to US consumers in 2023!
7) Caudalie
Caudalie has been at the forefront of sustainability since before it was cool. Their list of charitable partners is impressive including 1% For the Planet, WWF, and so many more. In 2021, the brand overhauled their packaging to dramatically reduce virgin plastics and include more sustainable materials like FSC papers and cardboards. They’re helping to collect plastics from beaches in Thailand and assisting in the recycling process. Every year Caudalie collects an amount of plastic equalling their annual plastic output.
Find Caudalie on Glou here!
8) Viori
Shampoo and conditioner in bar form are fantastic options for sustainability. Free from the burden of pumps and squeezy-bottles, Viori’s shampoo and conditioner bars provide options for all hair types, free of excessive packaging. Their transparent relationship with the Red Yao people from whom the brand gets its ingredients provides an example of ethically-minded and sustainable practices that allow regional traditions to reach a global audience.
9) Ellis Brooklyn
Fragrance is an often-overlooked category in the beauty space, but Ellis Brooklyn is definitely a brand to watch in 2023. Their scents are to die for and are less than half the price of designer perfume. But, best of all, the brand’s sustainability ethos is really refreshing. Despite their “clean” marketing, Ellis Brooklyn’s top priority is sustainability. In their own words, “Our philosophy is one of balance: we prefer naturals for their complexity and beauty, but we will use synthetics when they are the safer or more sustainable option.” They select their natural ingredients with ecological health in mind and make annual donations to the Carbon Fund.
Shopping for fragrances online can be hard, and sometimes you just get it wrong. Cute packaging sometimes disguises a not-so-cute scent. We completely understand. Listing your fragrances on Glou is a great way to explore at reduced risk and shop your favorites!
10) JVN Hair
Who doesn’t love Netflix’s Queer Eye? In 2022, hairstylist Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye launched their own line of haircare, JVN Hair, with sustainability at the forefront. Their packaging is 99% plastic free, and what little plastic there is comes from Post Consumer Resin plastics. JVN Hair even provides a step-by-step guide to properly preparing your empties for recycling! According to their website, the brand’s approach to sustainability goes beyond recyclable packaging (though that is also a key factor). Their ingredients are selected with oceans, rivers, and lakes in mind. JVN knows that sustainability doesn’t end once you wash a product off.
In addition to sustainable ingredients and packaging, JVN Hair also contributed to the Carbon Fund and ensures carbon-free shipping on all orders placed through the JVN Hair website.
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